Taylor Commercial Waterproof Digital Thermometer Reviews

• Simplify your life with one thermometer

  
  By A16I6WJUEBJ1C3 on 2004-12-25
  This thermometer works fine for all my kitchen tasks. I wanted one thermometer to use for everything - yeast, yogurt, candy, meat, and this does the job. Pluses: seems to be accurate, waterproof (easy to wash), auto shut-off, wide temperature range, small for easy storage. Minuses: it does take several seconds to read the final temp, the on-off button is kind of small, cannot be left in the oven (in a turkey, for example). Overall, I give it 5 stars.
  
  

• Great temperature range and easy to use

  
  By ARXU3FESTWMJJ on 2006-03-07
  I love this little thermometer. It reaches a reading within 10 seconds or so, and is accurate over a great temperature range. I use it for all kinds of things...checking my water to proof yeast, meat temperatures, candy, chocolate, and even to check the ambient temperature. It has a nice protective cover and is small and easy to store. I simply could not cook without this little helper beside me.
  
  UPDATE: I've had this thermometer for almost 2 years now and it is still going strong! Seems to be very durable and has great battery life.
  
  

• Slow & Not Waterproof

  
  By A3HCBGY381TKRO on 2007-01-12
  The readings on this are certainly not instantly accurate, though they are instantly within say 5-10 degrees, it then takes 5-10s to get it perfect, its OK for what I use it for though.
  
  My biggest problem with this thermometer, is that it bills itself as waterproof, and it most certainly isn't. It might be water resistant, but certainly not water proof. After two washings, it still works, but the screen has condensation and discoloration inside it, making it nearly illegible. I have added a very clear custom image of what it looks like, I urge you to take a look before buying.
  
  I will be returning this item shortly
  
  - Davey
  
  

• Just buy it

  
  By A2PCORE09BPBAM on 2006-12-01
  I've gone through several instant read thermometers. This is by far the best I've used. Its wide range is ideal and it stands up to more abuse than others. Well worth the price.
  
  

• Taylor 9842

  
  By A1VBB4YMBUQG0K on 2004-12-03
  Easy to use and safe.Antibacterial and waterproof make this the safest and handiest tool in my kitchen.The readings are fast and accurate and we use this for the stovetop,the George Foreman and the grill.We recommend the Taylor 1474 for the oven and smoker.We are happy with all our Taylor Instruments.
  
  
• rugged thermometer with wide temp. range
  By A20NEWN1U1DN7T on 2005-09-14
  I wanted an instant read thermometer that I could use for meats & poultry (110 deg. - 160 deg.) and for checking temp for deep fat frying ( 300 deg. - 360 deg.) This unit has performed both functions very well, taking bumps and knocks better than standard analog pocket thermometers. Worth the money.
  
  
• A must have for every Chef!!!
  By A2GB94QMVJWOMT on 2005-10-06
  I love this little guy!! It is one of the few thermometers that will tell you the outside temperature, while you are grilling, and give you a good excuse for another beer. :) Then you can finally grill your chicken or roasts to the proper serving temperature. It is accurate, fast, easy to read and compact enough to fit in a shirt pocket. I am a pretty good sized man and find the "little" buttons no problem to depress.
  Why on earth would you ever place a plastic molded thermometer in the oven?? That is what the oven controls are for ------. However, you can always use it to probe your turkey as needed ------ but do NOT place in the oven with the bird!!!
  
  
• Product is Made in China by "American" manufacturer
  By A210653KUAMEY0 on 2007-11-08
  I purchased this unit due to the many recommendations AND because the Taylor Product website claimed that these were being manufactured in the USA. The Taylor production had moved to China years ago. Our family has boycotted all Chinese made products for more than 10 years. I would have sought out an alternative if the product's country of origin had been accurately described by either Amazon or by Taylor. The negative review is not a reflection of poor performance or problems with the unit.
  
  
• Very pleased with Taylor Digital...GREAT!
  By A3F4ZODN6GUVLR on 2004-12-18
  I have owned this thermometer for several months, it works perfect. Was looking to buy as a gift, but they are out of stock. Would highly recommend, it has made my outdoor grilling effortless. I know exactly when my steaks and chicken are done!
  
  
• Off by 4*F and won't calibrate...
  By A17EXU8SXPMXP6 on 2006-08-13
  The thermometer that I received came out of the box reading 4*F too high. The box says it will be accurate to +/- 1*F from 0*F - 230*F, but mine isn't. I tried to calibrate as directed in the enclosed instructions, using crushed ice in water, but to no avail.
  
  I hate this junk made in China and would rater pay $5 more for a quality product that meets the supplier's claims and lasts more than 3 weeks before breaking...
  
  Mine is going back because the product does not do what the Taylor claims.
  
  
• taylor 9842 prefessional waterproof thermometer
  By A3TXGEJYANPOUD on 2005-08-20
  I have been cooking for 18 years and have yet found a thermometer that can take the beating i put it through. I order this thermometer on just looks and was inpressed from the minute i used it. I would recommend this thermometer to anyone. In fact i order two more for my crew.
  
  
• Not Accurate and Potentially Dangerous
  By A3M02T90TU2XE9 on 2006-09-23
  From the start, it was apparent that the temperature displayed was 5 or 6 degrees higher than two other digital thermometers I had in the same room. So I followed the calibration instructions and was only able to get the display to read 34.1 degrees in a 32 degree solution... ok, so I can live with 2.1 degree inaccuracy. After calibrating, the room temperature was also only off by about 2 degrees. However, I decided to test it in boiling water and the display read 193 degrees (water boils at 212F). So, If you are counting on this thermometer to tell you anything important (such as if your meat is cooked suffiently or if your beer water is the right temperature for steeping), I would make sure it is accurate at the temperature of interest before using... or avoid it all together, which I wish I had done.
  
  
• Fast and accurate!
  By A2DBWERAXCLLP2 on 2005-12-28
  I've used this for measuring the temperature of meat and liquids and it performs very well. Within one second it gets to within 5-10 degrees and by about 5 seconds it's zoned in on the temperature.
  
  The quality looks good and it has a sturdy feel about it. One drawback is that you cannot leave the thermometer in the oven, but considering how quickly this one works that's not a major issue. Besides, every one of the 'wire' thermometers I've tried where you can leave the sensor in the oven and read the temperature outside never seem to last more than a dozen or so uses.
  
  In short, it does what it says it does and it does it well.
  
  
• Works very well, fast response time
  By A1KCU9UFB4D806 on 2007-11-09
  The thing I care most about with a thermometer is the delay on a reading, because usually I'm on my knees in front of my open oven trying to check on a roast chicken or something, and the longer I have to leave the oven open, the more it interferes with the cooking.
  
  This thermometer responds very quickly. Within about 5 seconds, it may still be changing a bit, but it's converged to where I know the temperature.
  
  Mine was very accurate right out of the box. I tested it with ice water and boiling water and both were spot-on. And the little calibration dial looks simple enough to use if it happened to be slightly off.
  
  My only complaint, but it's not even enough to bump my review down a star, is that the battery insertion is a bit of a pain. I opened it at first to see how it worked and then it took me 15 minutes of fumbling to get the thing back together. That's due to the waterproofing -- the drawer is this fiddly piece of rubber, so it's hard to really get the battery lined up just right, and the rubber's a bit bigger than the opening, so that it forms a tight seal. Given how infrequently I'll need to replace the battery, it's not a big concern.
  
  I haven't tested the waterproofing too aggressively; for me the benefit is just being comfortable holding the whole thermometer under running water to clean it, or leaving it on the counter where I might splash liquid on it and not having to worry that it'll short out.
  
  
• works good
  By A15BN1AMRT8FP1 on 2006-10-07
  I have had this for almost a year, and for the money I cannot recommend a better product. I would buy another.
  
  
• OK but too slow
  By A3H1CE8T6GDVWV on 2007-01-13
  My biggest disappointment about this thermometer is the time it takes to get a readout. It is far from "instant" - I believe the advertised time to get a readout is 8 seconds. Mine takes more like 20 to 30 seconds. That's a pretty long time when you're reaching into a hot oven or over a flaming grill. You might as well use a standard thermometer for a few minutes vice the 30 seconds, especially since you can't leave this one in the oven. I left it in for about a minute or so in a 400 degree oven and it came out with the display all blacked out. Luckily it recovered but if I had left it longer it probably would not have. I haven't tried to wash it yet so don't know about how "waterproof" mine is.
  
  
• The best piece of kitchen equipment I own...
  By A3FQINZGZ4MH9Q on 2007-03-17
  ...and I own a lot! It's reasonably quick, very accurate, and VERY durable! That last part is especially important as I can be rather absent minded sometimes. I left it out on the grill on a very rainy Oregon week and fully expected it to be toast. To my great delight, I turned it on and it worked just fine!
  
  I've had more than a few probe thermometer probes (the kind with the metal thermometer wired to a base unit that looks like a small alarm clock) turn wildly inaccurate over time, but this doesn't share those problems in the least. I've probably used it over 400 times by now, and it's still going strong, on its original battery no less.
  
  The thermometer has two nice features worth mentioning: first is the shape of the head- it's mostly circular, but with flattened sections on the top and bottom so that you can lay it down on the counter without it rolling all over the place.
  
  The other nice thing is the sharp point and slim profile of the probe, probably about the same width as a headphone connector. These factors make insertion into a nice medium-rare steak much less like pushing a rope than with thicker, blunter thermometers and doesn't poke a huge hole in the meat. (Though for roasting, you should probably plug the hole back up with a bamboo skewer or something.)
  
  
• This item is junk
  By A327CXP15MYKBZ on 2007-04-20
  Amazon shipped two of them to me. They were both defective. I attempted to calibrate them following the instructions to no avail. Stay away from this item.
  
  
• Part time grill master
  By A3I08BQ8IMBH8M on 2005-08-11
  Nice item. It takes a relatively fast reading, about as fast as you will find in this price range. The waterproof feature is also a bonus and it is simple to clean. I did quite a bit of research and everyone pointed to the Taylor thermometers. I couldn't image that you could find a better deal for the price. Besides, never serving a guest undercooked chicken again is worth $15.
  
  
• Does the job
  By A2Q8MV1HIZ0LN4 on 2005-10-20
  My mom suggested I purchase this, it's a good brand and works perfectly. First used it on meatloaf and it worked like a charm.
  
  
• Outstanding Value
  By AZ7IK1V693H0G on 2006-10-03
  What a bargain, this is a great thermometer and the push button power switch is so easy to use; my other one had a tiny little switch that was so hard to work.
  
  
• Taylor 9842 waterproof digital thermometer
  By A3F4EXJJ5F741J on 2007-01-09
  I found this thermometer slow in reaching the temperature, certainly not instant. Furthermore, I found the readings inaccurate on several occasions. I bought the thermometer for tempering chocolate, but it was unsatisfactory for that purpose; I would get readings of 15 degrees variance in different parts of a small ceramic dish without a heat source. I also could not get accurate nor timely readings for other candy-making.
  
  It was accurate and consistent for boiling water temperatures, but took more than 10 seconds to obtain the reading. This is not satisfactory for candy-making.
  
  
• Best Instant Read Thermometer I've Used
  By A1BIZGMFZVZJX4 on 2006-08-24
  Very accurate, easy to calibrate, can read temp on shallow foods because sensor is in tip, but won't bend when inserting deep for a center temp, and speedy reading (6-10 sec). (Lost a star because, well hey, it can always be faster.) I still may invest in a Thermapen someday, because Alton Brown and America's Test Kitchen rave about them, but for now I'm quite happy with this little thermometer.
  
  
• Accurate, Reliable, Functional
  By A3EPD13TZV4OQ0 on 2007-02-10
  I am a professional Chef and use this everyday. I usually find it is more reliable to have your own equipment rather than relying on something that someone else said is good.
  
  This is a first rate thermometer and I use it all day long. Easy to clean and sanitize, withstands the wear and tear of commercial kitchen use (including drops) without requiring recalibration (as with standard thermometers).
  
  
  When taking temperatures, it takes about 15 sec. to get accurate read. But for the most part it get's you in the neighborhood within 4 sec. and then you can watch it fluctuate in 10th's of incriments
  
  
• Not Worth Your Money
  By A2JGH6GVP84IQ3 on 2007-05-12
  I ordered this trusting other reviews thinking I was getting a good deal for my money. However, after multiple uses, I have found its inaccuracy to be a problem. I am in the food service industry so as a chef I must make sure food is the right temp. before it is put away. With this thermometer, even though the product is cold to my hand it will begin temping at 110 degrees and the counter will continue to count up to about 150 even though it is around 60 degrees. This is a defective item, you aren't getting your money's worth and I would not recommend it.
  
  
• stating the obvious
  By A60VMEZ6IEAHB on 2007-05-16
  Have had this item for about a year or more and am very pleased with it.
  Temps come up quickly and are accurate.
  The two recent reviews which are so negative are obviously defective units. That in itself is something to say. However, to in any way imply that a unit swinging wildly over a 40 degree range or another unit which is off by an obvious 100 degrees or so are in any way representative of the product in normal use is absurd.
  There are 50 some odd other reviews here stating implicitly that these examples are not normal functioning for this product.
  
  
• Temperature This!
  By A3792FY8GH83X6 on 2007-05-22
  Works well with meat, sauces, and baking. If I need another thermometer, I'll come back to this one.
  
  
• Great for Baby Baths
  By A25AGJ6T6Z68C9 on 2007-11-17
  I bought this to make sure I didn't make the baby bath water too hot. It works great. It's waterproof and I keep the thermometer in the bathroom medicine cabinet, and throw it in for 20 seconds or so before putting the kids in. It's much more accurate than my sense of touch! It has a sharp point so you have to make sure not to let kids play with it.
  
  
• Good until battery dies
  By A2GTC2XTZ49K6 on 2007-11-23
  I had to replace the battery and the on/off switch no longer works. The display works intermittently if the battery is removed and put back in.
  
  
• Wont calibrate
  By A2K4G1YKIKZNT2 on 2006-08-28
  Very nice thermometer however reading is lower than actual temperature. I tried to calibrate unit according to instructions, however display will not change as calibration screw is turned. Must have a defective unit.
  
  M.D.
  
  

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